We’ll im still worried about Puddin we did put her back on her pain meds even though the dr only gave her enough for a week. we did decrease it from every 8 hrs to 12 hrs. She been doing this whining it’s just had us really worried. She is going out to the bathroom and at times seems to be getting around better on three legs. She’s always been one to eat everything in site but now she shows no interest in her treats or anything. We’ve boiled her some chicken and she has been eating some of it. She also acts like she constipated but then when she does go it seems her stomachs a little upset. Is Radar going through the same stuff I know he’s on day 10 like us.

Just a thought… if it wasn’t that she was in pain (since she is back on Tramadol?), any chance she is seeking more attention? or is there any subtle changes on the attention she is getting the last couple of days lass than the first few days after surgery?

If nothing obvious in routines have been changed, if she continues to whine today, or tomorrow, have the vet checked it out. For the time being, try warm/cold compress (like I suggested for Radar) onto Puddin’s wound, and see if it helps.

The stomach upset, and poor appetite are highly likely because of the side effect of the meds. The dilemma is side effects or pain. Really need to find the balance point.

She might not have as frequent bowel movement since she has not been eating well. So this will take time when she is really off from pain med, then appetite will improve.

I am not a vet, I speak only from what my teacher, Genie, had taught me. She probably had the worst experience when compare to most of the recovery stories I have heard. As I have mentioned in other posts, it was two months that she did not have any interest in food. She was 68 before amputation, and after losing a limb, having poor appetite, her weight was down to 58 after 4 weeks.

At that time, the vet said she wasn’t too worried about poor appetite since it was normal after operation and all the meds and stuff. BUT her concern was that Genie needed protein to get healed quickly. So I had to be really (I mean, REALLY) creative every meal to try different varieties to entice her to eat. Unfortunately, it seemed everything I tried was not very successful.

When she really was completely off from pain meds and antibiotics (long story, she went chasing other dogs and fell hard on asphalt, and so, more meds), it was just like all of a sudden, one day she decided to eat, and life was good again.

Sounds like Puddin and Radar are going through the same things right now. One thing my vet had me do was to give Radar a "little" bit of bran flakes for 4-5 days post op to help with constipation. Radar’s stools were softer and easier to pass and he hasn’t had a problem with that since the first bowel movement post op (day 3).

My vet is of the same mind as everything we’ve read: that is get them off pain meds as soon as possible. So while it’s tearing us up seeing him crying, we are hoping that he will adjust in a day or two without meds. I will be trying Genie’s tips to make him more comfortable.

we did put her back on her pain meds … when she does go it seems her stomachs a little upset.

If Puddin is on Prevacox, it is probably giving her tummy trouble.

My people will try to dig up the links they found when they pulled me off that stuff. But research it online. There have been numerous cases of serious gastrointestinal deterioration and even death from that stuff. It can be a good pain killer for very short periods, but extended use is dangerous.

It made my poop slimy. That’s when my people looked into it. They didn’t like what they found out.

I had a bad experience with previcox as well with my other guy (Buddy) and we pulled him off it and he recovered…it caused his kidney counts to be out of whack and we thought he might be going into renal failure…after countless tests and a little trial and error we figured out that it was the pain meds…he’s off the previcox and is back to his wonderful self.

The balance with pain meds is very difficult and takes a little time to figure out as each furry friend reacts differently.

It’s still early in the recovery – you’re doing all the right things – hang in there – we are praying for you. Please keep us posted.

Love

Zeus and Mom

Heather and Spirit Zeus - Our life changing journey…from the earth to the heavens…one day at a time…always together

The balance with pain meds is very difficult and takes a little time to figure out as each furry friend reacts differently.

You are so right! After I went on Previcox because of my limp (which the docs didn’t know was osteosarcoma), I was like a puppy again. Bouncing off the walls, running amok and acting like nothing was wrong. My pawrents were stunned at the quick "recovery."

It wasn’t until an ulcer started forming in my stomach did my pawents suspect anything was wrong. They didn’t want to take me off the drugs because I seemed so happy, but they knew they had to because it was ripping a hole in my gut. Once they took me off, and my limp came back, they knew for sure that the drugs were just masking my pain.

Then, after my amp, when I was taking pain meds during my recovery, my pawrents were once again scared to take me off of them. They weren’t sure if these new pain pills were doing more harm than good. So they gradually weaned me off them, and were relieved to know that the surgery did its job, and I didn’t need the pain pills after a few weeks. Whew! I’m so glad to be done with that stuff.